Do phones take the vacation out of vacation time?

Updated 6:58 am, Friday, June 28, 2013

A new Harris Poll finds people are still engaged with work while on vacation due to smartphones. Here are 10 jobs that make good salaries and have plenty of vacation.

A new Harris Poll finds people are still engaged with work while on vacation due to smartphones. Here are 10 jobs that make good salaries and have plenty of vacation.

Photo: Kiyoshi Ota

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No. 9 Judges and magistrates: Judges and magistrates can have a relatively light work schedule based on their jurisdiction. A larger jurisdiction will lead to a more typical 40-hour work schedule, but a limited jurisdiction could mean a significantly lighter schedule.

No. 9 Judges and magistrates: Judges and magistrates can have a relatively light work schedule based on their jurisdiction. A larger jurisdiction will lead to a more typical 40-hour work schedule, but a

No. 7 Principals and teachers: This shouldn’t come as big surprise. Teachers, or anyone in the education business, have a tough job through most of the year, but they can also enjoy relaxing summers. The other perk is never working on some of the biggest U.S. holidays – Christmas and Thanksgiving.

No. 7 Principals and teachers: This shouldn’t come as big surprise. Teachers, or anyone in the education business, have a tough job through most of the year, but they can also enjoy relaxing summers. The

No. 5Dental hygienists: Hygienists get the luxury of working fewer hours than most careers, and they aren’t required to have the expertise of a dentist. The career is also in demand as the economy picks up.

No. 5Dental hygienists: Hygienists get the luxury of working fewer hours than most careers, and they aren’t required to have the expertise of a dentist. The career is also in demand as the economy picks

No. 4Clinical, counseling and school psychologists: Psychologists usually set their own hours, meaning they can work as little or as much as they want. However, the flexibility comes with extra schooling and licensing.

No. 4Clinical, counseling and school psychologists: Psychologists usually set their own hours, meaning they can work as little or as much as they want. However, the flexibility comes with extra schooling

No. 3 Speech-language pathologists: Like psychologists, speech-language pathologists are typically employed by schools, meaning they have plenty of days off. Their specialty, which often requires advanced schooling, also comes with higher pay.

No. 3 Speech-language pathologists: Like psychologists, speech-language pathologists are typically employed by schools, meaning they have plenty of days off. Their specialty, which often requires advanced

No. 2 Law teachers and post-secondary teaching: Like elementary school teachers, college professors get the summer off and have numerous paid holidays off, too. But the profession requires more schooling and more expertise than other careers.

No. 2 Law teachers and post-secondary teaching: Like elementary school teachers, college professors get the summer off and have numerous paid holidays off, too. But the profession requires more schooling

No. 1 Aircraft pilots, co-pilots, flight engineers and flight attendants: Due to FAA regulations, these professions have limited work hours during the year. Pilots can’t work more than 1,000 hours a year, or roughly 20 hours a week.

No. 1 Aircraft pilots, co-pilots, flight engineers and flight attendants: Due to FAA regulations, these professions have limited work hours during the year. Pilots can’t work more than 1,000 hours a year, or

It's the best news you've heard all year: the vacation that you requested has finally been approved.

So it's time to relax, kick back and enjoy the peace and quiet, right?

That might not be a reality these days, according to a new poll.

The Harris poll of 2,071 U.S. adults found that more than half of U.S. workers would prefer a root canal than to work during vacation, but that they cave in to bosses' demands by using mobile technology on their down time.

Mobile devices can be a big plus when it comes to keeping in touch with family and friends, or checking out the latest movies on the web. But they can also be a curse when the workday ends but the work-related calls and emails keep coming in.

Among the other key findings of the online survey released on Tuesday and reported by Reuters:

-Americans struggle to take real time off from work, with 30 percent using their smartphone for work-related purposes while relaxing at their favorite vacation spot.

- About 51 percent of U.S. adults would rather have a root canal than work while on vacation, but 54 percent said their bosses expected them to stay connected during their time away;

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- About 67 percent said family members get upset when a loved one works while on vacation

On a more positive note, more than six out of 10 people said checking emails while on holiday makes it easier to ease themselves back into work when the vacation is over, according to the Reuters report.